
Overview
Background
Geoff is a leading Australian sociologist with interests in rural and regional sociology, globalisation/localisation and agrifood research.
He attended James Ruse Agricultural High School in Sydney and was School Captain in 1968. He then completed a degree in agricultural economics at Sydney University in 1972. This was followed by a diploma in social science (UNE), Master of Science in Sociology (Wisconisn-Madison) and a PhD (Griffith). In 1992 he became Associate Professor of Sociology and Foundation Director, Centre for Rural Social Research, at Charles Sturt University before moving later that year to Central Queensland University as Foundation Professor of Sociology (1992-2002) and Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Regional Development (1998-2002). He joined The University of Queensland as Professor of Sociology and Head of the School of Social Science in 2002. He is a Life Member of the Fitzroy Basin Association, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, Life Member of the Australian Sociological Association, and was President of the International Rural Sociology Association (2012-2016). He became Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Queensland in 2014.
His full profile can be seen at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Lawrence_(sociologist)
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, University of Sydney
- Postgraduate Diploma, University of New England Australia
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Wisconsin
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research interests
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Agriculture, the Environment and the Politics of Sustainability
The questions are: To what extent is 'greening' and green politics influencing the course of agricultural development and resulting in policies aimed at reducing ecological destruction? What is the nature of the debates and theorisations regarding productivism/post-productivism in the rural landscapes of advance economies? In a practical sense, how is it possible to ensure that current and future natural resource management will provide sustainable outcomes for society?
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Globalisation, Localisation and Restructuring of Regional Australia
This is a broad area whcih includes an examination of the social affects of economic change upon regions and highlights town decline, poverty, unemployment and ill-health - as well as the 'ingredients' for successful community development and the enhancement of social capital. Issues of empowerment and governance are crucial to the understanding of the future of the regions. The issue of global/local relations is also of significance - particularly as Australian governments seek to promote 'self help' and 'partnership' options.
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Financialisation of Food and Farming
Finance capital is playing an increasingly important role in food and farming industries. Entities like merchant banks, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and hedge funds are purchasing farmlands and agribusinesses in an effort to increase returns to shareholders. However, some of these activities are speculative and lead to food price distortions; others impact upon traditional owners when so-called 'land grabs' force producers from their farms. 'Financialisation' is seen as being as important as globalisation and neoliberalism in altering the face of food and farming.
Works
Search Professor Geoffrey Lawrence’s works on UQ eSpace
1994
Conference Publication
Recent theoretical insights from studies of global agri-food restructuring
Lawrence, G. (1994). Recent theoretical insights from studies of global agri-food restructuring. 2nd Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Sydney, Australia, 12-13 November 1994.
1994
Journal Article
Education policy and the Australian rural economy
Share, Perry, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Boylan, Colin (1994). Education policy and the Australian rural economy. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 10 (1), 58-67.
1994
Book Chapter
Agricultural change in the semi-periphery: the Murray Darling Basin, Australia
Lawrence, G. and Vanclay, F. (1994). Agricultural change in the semi-periphery: the Murray Darling Basin, Australia. The global restructuring of agro-food systems. (pp. 76-103) edited by P. McMichael. Ithaca, NY, United States: Cornell University Press.
1994
Conference Publication
Rural restructuring: sociological meaning, social impacts and policy implications
Hungerford, L. and Lawrence, G. (1994). Rural restructuring: sociological meaning, social impacts and policy implications. International Conference on Issues Affecting Rural Communities, Townsville, QLD, Australia, 10-15 July 1994. Townsville, QLD, Australia: James Cook University.
1994
Conference Publication
Science, scientists and biotechnology: public and private research in Australia
Vanclay, F. and Lawrence, G. (1994). Science, scientists and biotechnology: public and private research in Australia. XIII World Congress of Sociology, Bielefeld, Germany, 18-23 July 1994.
1994
Journal Article
Industry involvement in Australian agrobiotechnology: the views of scientists
Lawrence, G. and Norton, J. (1994). Industry involvement in Australian agrobiotechnology: the views of scientists. Australasian Biotechnology, 4 (6), 362-368.
1994
Conference Publication
A critical assessment of Landcare: evidence from Central Queensland
Morrisey, P. and Lawrence, G. (1994). A critical assessment of Landcare: evidence from Central Queensland. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Geelong, Australia, 7-10 December 1994.
1994
Conference Publication
Is Queensland different? Findings from a study of Landcare Groups in the Wide-Bay - Burnett region
Morissey, P. and Lawrence, G. (1994). Is Queensland different? Findings from a study of Landcare Groups in the Wide-Bay - Burnett region. Landcare in the Balance Conference, Australian Landcare Movement, Hobart, Tasmania, 6-9 September 1994.
1994
Conference Publication
A contribution towards a contemporary political economy of rural Australia: issues and insights
Lawrence, G. (1994). A contribution towards a contemporary political economy of rural Australia: issues and insights. Political Economy Twentieth Year Anniversary Conference, Sydney, Australia, 22 October 1994.
1993
Journal Article
Biotechnology in Australian agriculture: the views of farmer representatives
Lawrence, Geoffrey, McKenzie, Helen and Vanclay, Frank (1993). Biotechnology in Australian agriculture: the views of farmer representatives. Prometheus (Abingdon), 11 (2), 234-251. doi: 10.1080/08109029308629356
1993
Journal Article
Review of Conservation and development issues in North Australia
Lawrence, Geoffrey (1993). Review of Conservation and development issues in North Australia. Journal of Rural Studies, 9 (2), 197-198. doi: 10.1016/0743-0167(93)90041-h
1993
Book
Coping with change: Australian farmers in the 1990s
Gray, Ian W. , Lawrence, Geoffrey and Dunn, Tony (1993). Coping with change: Australian farmers in the 1990s. Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., Australia: Centre for Rural Social Research, Charles Sturt University.
1993
Journal Article
Rural Australia: current problems and policy directions
Share, P. and Lawrence, G. (1993). Rural Australia: current problems and policy directions. Regional Journal of Social Issues, 27.
1993
Journal Article
Structural change in rural Australia
Share, P. and Lawrence, G. (1993). Structural change in rural Australia. Impact, 2 (3).
1993
Conference Publication
Biotechnology and globalisation: the contribution of biotechnology to agro-food restructuring in Australia
Lawrence, G. and Vanclay, F. (1993). Biotechnology and globalisation: the contribution of biotechnology to agro-food restructuring in Australia. XV European Congress of Rural Sociology, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2-6 August 1993.
1993
Book Chapter
Preface
Lawrence, G. (1993). Preface. Rural education issues: an Australian perspective. (pp. ix-x) edited by C. Boylan and M. Alston. Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia: Rural Social and Economic Research Centre.
1993
Journal Article
Environmental and social consequences of economic restructuring in Australian agriculture
Vanclay, F. and Lawrence, G. (1993). Environmental and social consequences of economic restructuring in Australian agriculture. International Journal of Sociology of Food and Agriculture, 3.
1993
Book Chapter
Rural Australia
Lawrence, G., Gray, I. and Share, P. (1993). Rural Australia. A Sociology of Australian Society: Introductory Readings. (pp. 554-583) edited by Jake Najman and John S. Western. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Macmillan.
1993
Journal Article
Globalisation and Australian sport
McKay, J., Lawrence, G., Miller, T. and Rowe, D. (1993). Globalisation and Australian sport. Sport Science Review, 2 (1), 10-28.
1993
Conference Publication
Personal and social consequences of the rural crisis
Gray, I. and Lawrence, G. (1993). Personal and social consequences of the rural crisis. Annual Conference of the National Association of Loss and Grief, Yeppoon, QLD, Australia, 7-10 September 1990. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: National Association of Loss and Grief.
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Financialization and the restructuring of agriculture in Tanzania: Global finance and the takeover of farmland
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Agri-food transformations in Northern Australia: The work of local actors in mediating financial investments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kiah Smith
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Climate Change Adaptation in Southwest Bangladesh: Vulnerability and Gender Inequality
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Adil Khan
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2017
Master Philosophy
Cultivating climate change resilience in agri-food systems: Responses to natural disasters and emerging climate risks in Queensland's fresh produce supply chains
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Rice, politics and power: the political economy of food insecurity in East Asia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Melissa Curley
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The production of audit assurance: Unintended consequences of retailer governance in the Australian food system
Principal Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Environmental Governance in Rural Regions: A critical-interpretive perspective on policy implementation in Australia
Principal Advisor
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Contesting 'ethicality': Ethical trade, gender and sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers in Kenya
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristen Lyons
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Lakeside living - realising dreams in a master planned community
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Regional whole-of-government in Central Queensland: a sociocultural interpretation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Transformation of the Australian Beef Industry: Integrating Political Economy and Sociocultural Approaches to Agri-Food Restructuring
Principal Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
REGIONAL PLANNING AS GOOD GOVERNANCE: A CENTRAL QUEENSLAND CASE STUDY
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE CATTLE GRAZING WITHIN A CULTURE OF PRODUCTIVISM? A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF BROADSCALE BEEF PRODUCTION IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Cultural Reproduction, Loss and Limitations of Indigenous Traditions of Social Resilience in Rural Fiji.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke
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2018
Master Philosophy
What is food in the food regime?: Remaking food and markets in a time of crisis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristen Lyons
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Resonance of the land grabbing frame in Mali, West Africa: A social movements and political ecology perspective
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristen Lyons
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
It's for love not money: Queensland graziers' perceptions of sustainable development
Associate Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Growing old in Springfield Lakes: the possibility of community in a new suburb
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
Media
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